28.08.2025

Documentary gem

Bob Davies reviews Carlos Underwood (director) No-one is illegal; every day tomorrow limited release

Recently premiering in Cardiff, No-one is illegal; every day tomorrow is a gem of a documentary that highlights the plight of migrants and asylum-seekers from outside the EU, as they attempt to escape poverty, war and persecution from their respective countries throughout the world. And Carlos Underwood’s 90-minute showing cuts a bleak and sombre, as well as a down-to-earth and honest, portrayal of that plight, delivering an effective counterpunch to the distorted, yet common, perception of the image and agenda of immigrants frequently cultivated by many mainstream and rightwing politicians.

“The right and the far right seek to blame the most vulnerable sectors for the mistakes of governments,” Carlos told the Weekly Worker. “The documentary aims to show facts, real situations, so that people understand that individuals migrate, because they have no choice … There is no ‘migration crisis’: there is a ‘crisis of human values’,” he added.

Containing comprehensive footage of the dire conditions refugees face when attempting to cross a border, the documentary starkly highlights not only the human cost of immigration, but also the brutal repression and the use of state force to combat border movements. The plight and death of asylum-seekers at the English Channel; the daily ‘clearances’ of migrant camps at Calais and the removal of people from there to locations literally hundreds of miles away; the exposure of conditions in Norway’s asylum detention centres - all are given prominence. Particularly noteworthy is the serious analysis given to the correctly named “massacre” of 37 immigrants in June 2022, whilst attempting to cross from Morocco into Spain via the Spanish enclave of Melilla in north Africa.

What is also commendable is the documentary’s exposure of the political hypocrisy and spin lauded by politicians who claim a “responsible” management of immigration. Politicians “manipulate people with fear”, Carlos states. “Migration is not a problem: the problem is having people in power like Trump, Meloni, Viktor Orbán or Sebastian Kurz …” Footage of the likes of ex-British home secretary Priti Patel blaming smuggler gangs for migrant deaths, whilst emphasising the use of (non-existent) legal routes, stands out. Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni is seen swearing she will not let Italy become Europe’s “refugee camp”. She states: “All the deaths in the Mediterranean, and no politician does anything.” Throughout, we are told by various politicians that refugees are not welcome despite their often desperate attempts to flee from terror precisely because of the involvement in or support for war from western governments in the first place.

It is to the documentary’s credit that there is also an attempt to politicise the question of immigration. “It is important to make it understood that there are political decisions that affect the lives of thousands of people,” Carlos points out. “Politicians can make decisions to help humanity. Unfortunately, they do not,” he says. It is useful that the need for free movement and open borders is given prominence by one activist. We hear speeches from campaigners as to why immigrants are being used as scapegoats for a failing capitalist economy and its need for a supply of cheap labour. One ex-leftwing Spanish politician correctly points out that, if there is social inequality and war throughout the world, migration is a perfectly natural phenomenon. Indeed! Although stopping somewhat short of the need for an internationally and democratically planned approach to the issue, the message is clear - people will flee war, persecution and poverty to improve their lives. Until these issues are tackled, no end of laws and state control will prevent the movement of people.

The team behind No-one is illegal; every day tomorrow is planning its screening at various community cinemas throughout the UK. It is also keen to stress its availability for educational use by political organisations and charities.

Recommended!